This enactment amends the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 to prohibit the anchoring of vessels within certain waters.

Preamble

Whereas Transport Canada introduced the Interim Protocol for the Use of Southern British Columbia Anchorages on February 8, 2018, in order to address the increased usage of anchorages by large vessels in that area;

Whereas the Interim Protocol includes voluntary measures designed to minimize disturbances caused by light and noise and to ensure an equitable rotation of assignments to anchorages along British Columbia’s southern coast between the Port of Vancouver, the Port of Nanaimo and the Southern Gulf Islands;

Whereas residents have commented that, despite the voluntary measures, they have observed an increased usage of anchorages, including in terms of both the frequency and the duration of stays at anchor;

Whereas ancient clam beds, prawns, oysters and endangered species, such as the southern resident killer whale, found in these waters are at risk of environmental impact from these vessels, which have been shown to swing at anchor, increasing the risks of them running aground and causing environmental and ecological disaster;

Whereas the Government of Canada has, in 2003, committed to assess the feasibility of protecting the sensitive marine habitat in these waters through the establishment of a national marine conservation area, recognizing that the marine environment is fundamental to the social, cultural and economic well-being of people living in coastal communities;

And whereas some First Nations in the region expressed concern that they were not consulted, nor did they give their free and informed consent prior to the establishment of these anchorages in their unceded traditional territories;

Now, therefore, His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

Anchorage Prohibition

Definition of prohibited waters

23.‍1 (1) In this section, prohibited waters means the waters described in Schedule 1.‍1.‍

Anchoring in prohibited waters

(2) No person shall anchor a vessel within prohibited waters.

Exception

(3) Subsection (2) does not apply in respect of a pleasure craft.

Addition to Schedule 1.‍1

(4) On the recommendation of the Minister of Transport, the Governor in Council may, by order, add a description of prohibited waters to Schedule 1.‍1.

Contravention of section 23.‍1

37.‍1 Every person who contravenes section 23.‍1 (anchoring in prohibited waters) commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than $100,000.‍

1 Southern Strait of Georgia — Province of British Columbia

Beginning at a point at latitude 48°45′21″ North and longitude 123°36′07″ West;

Thence southeasterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 48°45′11″ North and longitude 123°35′13″ West;

Thence southeasterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 48°45′11″ North and longitude 123°35′12″ West;

Thence northeasterly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark to a point at latitude 48°48′30″ North and longitude 123°35′18″ West;

Thence northeasterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 48°49′14″ North and longitude 123°35′19″ West;

Thence northerly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark to a point at latitude 48°51′10″ North and longitude 123°36′38″ West;

Thence easterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 48°51′10″ North and longitude 123°36′37″ West;

Thence northeasterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 48°51′22″ North and longitude 123°36′20″ West;

Thence northerly in a straight line to a point at latitude 48°53′36″ North and longitude 123°37′59″ West;

Thence northwesterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 48°56′13″ North and longitude 123°42′50″ West;

Thence southwesterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 48°55′52″ North and longitude 123°43′22″ West;

Thence southwesterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 48°55′50″ North and longitude 123°43′23″ West;

Thence northwesterly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark to a point at latitude 48°57′50″ North and longitude 123°46′13″ West;

Thence northeasterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 48°58′52″ North and longitude 123°46′06″ West;

Thence northeasterly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark to a point at latitude 49°08′09″ North and longitude 123°49′11″ West;

Thence easterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 49°08′11″ North and longitude 123°49′00″ West;

Thence southeasterly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark to a point at latitude 49°08′07″ North and longitude 123°47′18″ West;

Thence southeasterly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark to a point at latitude 49°07′54″ North and longitude 123°41′58″ West;

Thence southwesterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 49°07′43″ North and longitude 123°41′57″ West;

Thence northeasterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 49°08′03″ North and longitude 123°41′20″ West;

Thence northwesterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 49°08′04″ North and longitude 123°41′30″ West;

Thence northeasterly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark to a point at latitude 49°08′46″ North and longitude 123°41′44″ West;

Thence easterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 49°57′54″ North and longitude 123°08′24″ West;

Thence easterly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark to a point at latitude 49°08′54″ North and longitude 123°41′25″ West;

Thence northeasterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 49°08′55″ North and longitude 123°41′23″ West;

Thence northeasterly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark to a point at latitude 49°09′09″ North and longitude 123°41′26″ West;

Thence northwesterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 49°09′08″ North and longitude 123°41′47″ West;

Thence northwesterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 49°09′09″ North and longitude 123°41′50″ West;

Thence northwesterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 49°09′07″ North and longitude 123°41′50″ West;

Thence northerly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark to a point at latitude 49°09′16″ North and longitude 123°41′55″ West;

Thence northwesterly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark to a point at latitude 49°09′34″ North and longitude 123°42′17″ West;

Thence northwesterly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark to a point at latitude 49°12′10″ North and longitude 123°49′06.‍2″ West;

Thence northeasterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 49°13′46.‍7″ North and longitude 123°45′22.‍8″ West;

Thence southeasterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 49°11′37″ North and longitude 123°40′27″ West;

Thence southeasterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 49°08′53″ North and longitude 123°33′34″West;

Thence southwesterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 49°05′43″ North and longitude 123°36′10″ West;

Thence southeasterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 48°56′58″ North and longitude 123°22′31″ West;

Thence northeasterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 48°56′59″ North and longitude 123°22′30″ West;

Thence northeasterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 49°00′07″ North and longitude 123°19′20″ West;

Thence southeasterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 48°49′52″ North and longitude 123°00′30″ West;

Thence southwesterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 48°46′01″ North and longitude 123°00′30″ West;

Thence westerly in a straight line to a point at latitude 48°41′38″ North and longitude 123°16′04″ West;

Thence southwesterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 48°32′55″ North and longitude 123°13′08″ West;

Thence southerly in a straight line to a point at latitude 48°29′47″ North and longitude 123°11′11″ West;

Thence northwesterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 48°29′46″ North and longitude 123°18′24″ West;

Thence northwesterly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark to a point at latitude 48°30′46″ North and longitude 123°21′38″ West;

Thence northeasterly along the province of British Columbia Tenure to a point at latitude 48°31′39″ North and longitude 123°21′54″ West;

Thence northeasterly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark line to a point at latitude 48°34′36″ North and longitude 123°22′03″ West;

Thence northerly along the province of British Columbia Tenure to a point at latitude 48°34′48″ North and longitude 123°22′12″ West;

Thence northeasterly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark to a point at latitude 48°35′13″ North and longitude 123°22′13″ West;

Thence northerly along the province of British Columbia Tenure to a point at latitude 48°35′26″ North and longitude 123°22′20″ West;

Thence northwesterly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark to a point at latitude 48°37′22″ North and longitude 123°24′22″ West;

Thence northerly along the province of British Columbia Tenure to a point at latitude 48°37′35″ North and longitude 123°24′34″ West;

Thence northeasterly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark to a point at latitude 48°38′07″ North and longitude 123°24′18″ West;

Thence northeasterly along the province of British Columbia Tenure to a point at latitude 48°40′29″ North and longitude 123°23′46″ West;

Thence northerly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark to a point at latitude 48°40′36″ North and longitude 123°23′49″ West;

Thence northeasterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 48°40′45″ North and longitude 123°23′50″ West;

Thence northwesterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 48°40′48″ North and longitude 123°23′54″ West;

Thence northeasterly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark to a point at latitude 48°40′53″ North and longitude 123°23′55″ West;

Thence northerly in a straight line to a point at latitude 48°41′05″ North and longitude 123°24′03″ West;

Thence northerly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark to a point at latitude 48°41′19″ North and longitude 123°24′09″ West;

Thence northwesterly along the province of British Columbia Tenure to a point at latitude 48°41′24″ North and longitude 123°24′58″ West;

Thence northwesterly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark to a point at latitude 48°40′59″ North and longitude 123°28′33″ West;

Thence westerly in a straight line to a point at latitude 48°40′51″ North and longitude 123°28′51″ West;

Thence southeasterly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark to a point at latitude 48°39′12″ North and longitude 123°26′45″ West;

Thence westerly along the province of British Columbia Tenure to a point at latitude 48°39′00″ North and longitude 123°27′11″ West;

Thence southwesterly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark to a point at latitude 48°34′47″ North and longitude 123°28′12″ West;

Thence southerly in a straight line to a point at latitude 48°34′26″ North and longitude 123°28′03″ West;

Thence southwesterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 48°34′20″ North and longitude 123°28′06″ West;

Thence southwesterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 48°34′19″ North and longitude 123°28′07″ West;

Thence northwesterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 48°34′20″ North and longitude 123°28′26″ West;

Thence southwesterly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark to a point at latitude 48°30′01″ North and longitude 123°32′48″ West;

Thence southwesterly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark to a point at latitude 48°29′36″ North and longitude 123°32′57″ West;

Thence northwesterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 48°29′36″ North and longitude 123°33′03″ West;

Thence southwesterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 48°29′28″ North and longitude 123°33′12″ West;

Thence northeasterly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark to a point at latitude 48°29′45″ North and longitude 123°33′08″ West;

Thence northerly along the province of British Columbia Tenure to a point at latitude 48°29′59″ North and longitude 123°33′14″ West;

Thence northeasterly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark to a point at latitude 48°36′17″ North and longitude 123°31′16″ West;

Thence northerly along the province of British Columbia Tenure to a point at latitude 48°36′22″ North and longitude 123°31′18″ West;

Thence northeasterly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark to a point at latitude 48°36′42″ North and longitude 123°31′07″ West;

Thence northeasterly along the province of British Columbia Tenure to a point at latitude 48°36′56″ North and longitude 123°31′10″ West;

Thence northerly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark to a point at latitude 48°38′43″ North and longitude 123°32′54″ West;

Thence northeasterly in a straight line to a point at latitude 48°39′15″ North and longitude 123°32′25″ West;

Thence northerly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark to a point at latitude 48°44′01″ North and longitude 123°35′09″ West;

Thence northwesterly along the province of British Columbia Tenure to a point at latitude 48°44′10″ North and longitude 123°35′40″ West;

Thence northwesterly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark to a point at latitude 48°44′26″ North and longitude 123°36′56″ West;

Thence northwesterly along the province of British Columbia Tenure to a point at latitude 48°44′35″ North and longitude 123°37′43″ West;

Thence northwesterly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark to a point at latitude 48°44′37″ North and longitude 123°37′48″ West;

Thence northeasterly along the province of British Columbia Tenure to a point at latitude 48°45′50″ North and longitude 123°37′18″ West;

Thence southeasterly along the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark to the point of commencement.

All islands within the boundary are excluded following the sinuosity of the ordinary high water mark.

The waters constitute an approximate area of 1,394 square kilometres.